Senator Bob Corker released the following statement today on the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014.
“Our veterans deserve solutions to the deep-rooted problems plaguing the VA, and they also deserve a Congress that has the discipline to pay for legislation it passes. It’s embarrassing that Congress not only refuses to face today’s decisions with the courage our men and women in uniform have demonstrated for decades, but rushed through a piece of legislation without thoroughly reviewing its full fiscal impact on future generations and without knowing if it will address the systemic problems that exist at the VA. Congress should take time to work with the recently confirmed Secretary of the VA on cost-effective reforms that don’t put in place yet another long-term unfunded liability.”
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the $10 billion funding for a key provision of the bill would last only until the early part of fiscal year 2016 and require billions of dollars in additional funding each year if the program is not canceled, he said.